The article will cover the biodegradation of Buna-S while also shedding light on questions such as recycling, reusing, sustainability, degradation, and other disposal methods.
Is Buna-S biodegradable?
Buna-S is not biodegradable because it is a man-made material made from petroleum products and therefore it is non-natural.
When it comes to rubbers, there are two main types. One is extracted from plant sources and therefore, can be given the status of being natural whereas, the other is man-made.
The other type of rubber is called man-made because it is made from products and materials derived from petrochemicals and fossil fuels.
Buna-S falls in the second category as it is man-made and therefore, can not be given the status of being naturally sourced and also being biodegradable. We need to be careful about the discrepancy between degradable and biodegradable.
Biodegradation is the breakdown that is caused by microbes and as a result, materials are converted into simpler materials that can return to nature again.
What is the best way to dispose of Buna-S?
When it comes to the best ways to dispose of Buna-S, the candidate that takes the floor is recycling.
When it comes to that, yes, Buna-S can definitely be recycled. Recycling is a way to ensure that waste is not discarded but rather reused after due changes and modifications.
The processes or steps that are associated are also fairly simple. All you need to do is to discard the Buna-N products and materials into the recycling bins. However, you can also be a step ahead and find and transport to your local recycling centres or schedule a pick-up from curbside recycling.
However, there are certain precautions that you need to be mindful of. One is that you need to ensure that the local recycling accepts recycled products made from Buna-N. It will be possible in most cases but as it is said, it is better to be safe than sorry.
What are other options?
When it comes to discarding and dealing with waste from Buna-S, the option that best suits environmental interests is recycling. However, it is important to be mindful and informed about the other disposal methods. These include
- Landfilling
- Incineration
Landfilling is one of the most practised options when it comes to the disposal of waste. When it comes to landfills, there are two main types that are mentioned.
One is the open landfill. It is very much similar and analogous to open dumps. And the other is controlled sanitary landfills. This one is much better in terms of health, safety, and the environment.
However, landfilling is not an eco-friendly option, because, given the context of massive waste generation, the space taken up by landfills is getting more and more unrealistic day by day.
Also, the waste that is a part of landfills may also leach into the soil and therefore, may cause soil and groundwater pollution. This can also medically affect the nearby population.
Another way to get away with the Buna-N waste is to incinerate it. This is also viable but not advised because incineration leads to the emission of harmful fumes and GHGs into the atmosphere.
This causes pollution and exacerbates environmental problems such as global warming. Also, incineration is an energy-intensive process and therefore, it takes a toll on non-renewable sources such as fuel derived from fossil fuels.
Is Buna-S sustainable?
To develop a stance on the sustainability of Buna-S, we need to ask the following questions such as
- Is it natural?
- Is it biodegradable?
- Is it recyclable
- Can it be reused?
- Is it produced sustainably?
- Is it discarded sustainably?
Let us briefly cover all these aspects to develop a stance on the sustainability of Buna-S.
Is it natural?
When it comes to rubbers, there are two main types. One is extracted from plant sources and therefore, can be given the status of being natural whereas, the other is man-made.
The other type of rubber is called man-made because it is made from products and materials derived from petrochemicals and fossil fuels.
Buna-S falls in the second category as it is man-made and therefore, can not be given the status of being naturally sourced.
Is it biodegradable?
Buna-S is not biodegradable because it is a man-made material made from petroleum products and therefore it is non-natural.
Therefore, it will persist in natural settings much longer than natural rubbers and therefore, will contribute to the problems of waste accumulation.
Is it produced sustainably?
While the subjective cases will vary, an objective stance is that Buna-S is not produced sustainably because it is made from products and materials derived from petrochemicals and fossil fuels.
It is a known fact that fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy and their use and consumption not only lead to the consumption of non-renewable sources of energy but also the introduction of GHGs into the atmosphere.
Is it discarded sustainably?
Since Buna-S is non-biodegradable, its disposal will also vary subjectively. If it is recycled and worked with an eco-conscious mindset, it will be sustainably discarded.
However, if it is discarded recklessly, let us say in open dumps, then the disposal of Buna-S can not be given the tag of sustainable and eco-friendly.
Can it be reused?
Yes, Buna-S products can be reused, repurposed, and utilised prior to their disposal. However, this factor also is subjective because not every consumer will accept reused products.
Conclusion
It is concluded that Buna-N is not biodegradable because it is a man-made material made from petroleum products and therefore it is non-natural.
However, it can be recycled. This means that you can throw Buna-N in recycling bins if your local recycling centres accept Buna-N products.
Further, other options for disposal include landfilling, incineration, reuse, and recycling. When it comes to the best disposal method, the option that takes the win is reusing because it requires the least amount of energy and deliberation.
The article also developed a stanced on the sustainability of Buna-S by working and deliberating aspects such as source, reusing, recycling, and biodegradation.
References
- Kemp, A. R., & Straitiff, W. G. (1944). Structural Features of Buna S. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 36(8), 707-715.
- Synthetic Rubbers. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/synthetic-rubber
- A brief guide on the rubber recycling process. Retrieved from: https://www.gmtrubber.com/a-brief-guide-on-the-rubber-recycling-process/